Baseball Almanac - 1965 National League Retirements

1965 National League Retirements

The baseball torch is passed from season to season and in some cases, from game to game. In 1911, Cy Young pitched his final Major League game, lost 1-0, and ended the final season of his career with a losing record of 7-9 and an ERA of 3.77. Young's opponent that particular day was a first-year pitcher named Grover Alexander who received the win, added to his league leading shutout total, and went on to begin his career with a winning record of 28-13 and an ERA of 2.57.

Bob Gibson, who was easily one of the most intense competitors of all time, gave up a grand slam to the last Major League hitter he faced, Pete LaCock of the Chicago Cubs. Fifteen years passed and when the two faced off during an old-timer's game, Gibson hit LaCock on his back with a fastball.

Babe Ruth summed it up when he responded to a question about retirement by saying, "A ballplayer should quit when it starts to feel as if all the baselines run uphill." Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a comprehensive list of National League League players who hung up their spikes in 1965.

"I want to hit a routine grounder to second and run all out to first base, then get thrown out by a half step. I want to leave an example to the young guys that that's how you play the game, all out." - George Brett

National League Retirements
1965

# Name Team Pos Age

41, 42 Jim Bethke New York Mets P 19

27 Gene Ratliff Houston Astros PH 20

9 John Hoffman Houston Astros C 22

37 Masanori Murakami San Francisco Giants P 22

34, 36 Dennis Musgraves New York Mets P 22

38 Dick Estelle San Francisco Giants P 24

47, 23 Morrie Steevens Philadelphia Phillies P 25

17 Hector Valle Los Angeles Dodgers C 25

40 Jack Warner Chicago Cubs P 25

27 Tom Parsons New York Mets P 26

25 Dick Smith Los Angeles Dodgers OF 27

16 Mike White Houston Astros 3B 27

31 Tom Butters Pittsburgh Pirates P 28

26 Charlie James Cincinnati Reds OF 28

6 Bobby Klaus New York Mets 2B 28

21 Bob Moorhead New York Mets P 28

10 Steve Boros Cincinnati Reds 3B 29

24 Ellis Burton Chicago Cubs OF 29

42 Don Dillard Milwaukee Braves OF 29

44 Jim Duffalo Cincinnati Reds P 30

45 Jim Duffalo San Francisco Giants P 30

36 Earl Francis St. Louis Cardinals P 30

48 Frank Baumann Chicago Cubs P 32

15 Leo Burke Chicago Cubs C 32

31 Don LeJohn Los Angeles Dodgers 3B 32

34 Ken MacKenzie Houston Astros P 32

25 Jim Mahoney Houston Astros SS 32

18 Johnny Blanchard Milwaukee Braves OF 33

29 Bobby Del Greco Philadelphia Phillies OF 33

2 Hal Smith Pittsburgh Pirates C 34

28 Carl Willey New York Mets P 34

7 Gus Triandos Houston Astros C 35

9 Gus Triandos Philadelphia Phillies C 35

29 Harry Bright Chicago Cubs PH 36

34 Gordon Jones Houston Astros P 36

17 Frank Lary New York Mets P 36

9 Wally Moon Los Angeles Dodgers OF 36

30 Ryne Duren Philadelphia Phillies P 37

2 Nellie Fox Houston Astros 3B 38

33 Barney Schultz St. Louis Cardinals P 39

8 Yogi Berra New York Mets C 41

21 Warren Spahn New York Mets P 45

21 Warren Spahn San Francisco Giants P 45

# Name Team Pos Age

1965 National League Retirements

Find out which players made their Major League debut in the National League during the 1965 season as this group of players bid farewell to their field's of dreams.

Goose Goslin played for eighteen seasons and averaged one-hundred twenty-seven games played per season. In 1938, during his final at-bat, he twisted his back and was replaced at the plate by a pinch-hitter for the first time in his Major League career.

Hank Aaron ended his Major League career on October 3, 1976, with a sharp single during the sixth inning off Dave Roberts of the Detroit Tigers.

Copyright © 2000-2007. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Design by Geisler Young. Hosted by Hosting 4 Less.
Part of the Baseball Almanac family: 755 Home Runs | Baseball Box Scores | Baseball Fever | Today in Baseball History.